El Roi is the Hebrew name for God meaning the God who sees me. We discover this name of God in Genesis 16:14-15. We meet Hagar, an Egyptian slave, who encountered God in the desert and addressed Him as El-Roi, "the God who sees me."
We will discuss the story of Hagar below. This is the only time that we find this name of God used in the Bible but there is so much meaning contained within it, that describes the character of God.
Just like God saw Hagar, He sees you and me too!
El Roi is the One who numbers the hairs on your head (Luke 12:7). El Roi knows everything about you, He is concerned about you. El Roi knows your past, present, and future.
El Roi: The God Who Sees Me
Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.”[a] She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?”14 So that well was named Beer-lahai-roi (which means “well of the Living One who sees me”). It can still be found between Kadesh and Bered. Genesis 16:13-14.
Pronouncing The Name: El raw-EE
This is Day 3 of a 30 Day study on The Names Of God. If you haven't read the introduction yet, please start HERE
What Does El Roi Mean?
The first person to call God by the name El Roi was Hagar. Hagar was a maidservant to Sari, Abram's wife.
God came to Abram and gave him some astonishing news:
Then the Lord said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.” Genesis 15:4.
Abram told Sari about God's promises, but as the months turned into years, Sari grew impatient with God and His promises. She told Abram that the Lord had kept her from having children and to go and sleep with her maidservant, that perhaps she could build a family through her.
I have to admit that at times I get frustrated waiting for things that God has promised me but I don't think that I would take that extreme action!
But in those ancient times, it was common practice for an infertile wife to offer her maid in order to keep the family name alive. So Abram agreed to what Sari had said. He slept with Hagar and she conceived.
When Hagar knew that she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. Sari became jealous and blamed Abram for the tension that this situation had caused. This is what Abram said to Sari:
Hagar: The God Who Sees Me - El Roi
Sari mistreated Hagar until she could bear it no more and she ran away. The angel of the Lord found Hagar in the desert and he said to her:
The angel said to her, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?”
“I’m running away from my mistress, Sarai,” she replied.
9 The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority.” Then he added, “I will give you more descendants than you can count.”11 And the angel also said, “You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means ‘God hears’), for the Lord has heard your cry of distress. Genesis 16:8-11.
God (El Roi) met Hagar in the desert.
Hagar was a slave who had been sexually used and verbally abused. Hagar was a woman amazed that God had heard her cries and had seen her misery. She was amazed that God had seen her plight and had actually spoken to her. This is what she said:
Hagar returned to her mistress and gave birth to a son and Abram called him, Ishmael.
Here is an interesting fact, did you know that Abram was 86 years old when his son was born?
EL Roi - The God who sees you
The God that Hagar met in the desert is a deeply personal and intimate God. He looks after Hagar and our daily needs.
Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:26:
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
God loved Hagar and He loves us too.
El Roi sees you
God sees us. He sees you. He hears you!
1 Peter 3:12 assures us, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are
attentive to their prayer.”
El Roi sees you in your important role of motherhood
God sees you right there in your weariness of motherhood.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
El Roi sees you in your pain and suffering
God sees you in your pain, confusion, and suffering.
Proverbs 5:21 states, “For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and He examines all your paths.”
El Roi sees you when you feel abandonded
God sees you when you feel abandoned and you think that no one cares about you.
Psalm 34:18:"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Another comforting verse is Isaiah 41:10:
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
God is El Roi, the God who sees you
But the beautiful truth is that God is El Roi, the God who sees you.
God is calling you to come into His presence and when you practice His presence, you will never be the same!
El Roi sees your heartache
He wants you to let Him walk with you through it and to remind you that He has a good plan for you, Jeremiah 29:11
Related: Yahweh Roi-The Lord Is My Shepherd - This Hebrew name of God sounds similar to El Roi and is so very encouraging!
I have found the most beautiful short film that explains through song, the meaning of the God's name El Roi. You can watch it here.
Applying the name of God, El Roi to your life:
I have prepared a free printable for you to use as you explore the names of God. You will find it in our Resource Library Here.
This page has prompts for you to use as you prayerfully meditate on the names of God.
So who is El Roi to you?
How does knowing God as El Roi-the God who sees you impact your life?
How can you grow in your Christian walk by understanding God as El Roi?
In the midst of her difficulties, Hagar learned that El Roi was watching over her. God watches over you too.
Here are a few of my favorite Bible verses that speak of God watching over us:
The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chronicles 16:9.
He will not let you stumble;
the one who watches over you will not slumber. Psalm 121:3.
The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. 6 The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.
7 The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. 8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever. Psalm 121:5-8.
Can you remember a time when you experienced God's watchful care?
I would love to hear your stories. Come chat with me in the Restoring Beauty For Ashes Facebook Group HERE or email karen@scripturalgrace.com.
Praying the Name Of God, El Roi:
When you pray God's word, you are praying His words of truth into your situation. It is the same when you pray God's names. When you understand the meaning of the specific name of God and pray it over your situation, you are declaring His power over it.
It certainly will build your faith and expectation of God to move in it. When you pray God's name, you are declaring the truth of who God is and you are proclaiming His power at work in your life.
Let's Pray:
El Roi thank you that You see me and hear me. You watch my coming and my going. Thank You that you rescue me when I am in trouble. Help me to remember that You see everything and that You have a good plan for my life. Help me to keep my eyes focused on you and not on my circumstances and fill my heart with hope and expectation of Your plans for my future. Amen.
The Names Of God And Their Meanings Bible Study PDF:
All 30 Names of God blog posts have been combined into a PDF for your convenience to dig deep into each name of God and keep this wonderful resource forever. It consists of a workbook with devotional questions to stimulate your own devotional thoughts. Use the printable prayer journal each day to pray through each name of God.
Related: Here is a link to all posts on the 30 Hebrew Names Of God
I would love it if you could share with me your thoughts as you work your way through this Scripture plan. You can connect with me via email karen@scripturalgrace.com or on our FACEBOOK page. Come back tomorrow as we unpack the name, El Shaddai-The All-Sufficient One, God Almighty.
It's all about His grace
xx Karen.
